A number of mammalian genes are expressed from only one of the two homologous chromosomes, selected at random in each cell. These include genes subject to X-inactivation, olfactory receptor (OR) genes, and several classes of immune system genes. The means by which monoallelic expression is established are only beginning to be understood. Using a cytological assay, we show that the two homologous alleles of autosomal random monoallelic loci differ from each other in embryonic stem (ES) cells, before establishment of monoallelic expression. The Polycomb Group gene Eed is required to establish this distinctive behavior. In addition, we found that when Eed mutant ES cells are differentiated, they fail to establish asynchronous replication timing at OR loci. These results suggest a common mechanism for random monoallelic expression on autosomes and the X chromosome, and implicate Eed in establishing differences between homologous OR loci before and after differentiation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200706053 | DOI Listing |
Recently, a novel African ancestry specific Parkinson's disease (PD) risk signal was identified at the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase ( ). This variant (rs3115534-G) is carried by ∼50% of West African PD cases and imparts a dose-dependent increase in risk for disease. The risk variant has varied frequencies across African ancestry groups, but is almost absent in European and Asian ancestry populations.
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November 2024
Translational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan.
: Neurodevelopmental disorders of genetic etiology are a highly diverse set of congenital recurrent complications triggered by irregularities in the basic tenets of brain development. : We present whole exome sequencing analysis and expression characteristics of the probands from four unrelated Pakistani consanguineous families with facial dysmorphism, neurodevelopmental, ophthalmic, auditory, verbal, psychiatric, behavioral, dental, and skeletal manifestations otherwise unexplained by clinical spectrum. : Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel, bi-allelic, missense variant in the gene [NM_152419.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomolecules
December 2024
Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Genomic imprinting, the parent-of-origin-specific gene expression, plays a pivotal role in growth regulation and is often dysregulated in cancer. However, screening for imprinting is complicated by its cell-type specificity, which bulk RNA-seq cannot capture. On the other hand, large-scale single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) often lacks transcript-level detail and is cost-prohibitive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNature
January 2025
Columbia Center for Genetic Errors of Immunity, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Hum Genet
December 2024
Department of Medical Genetics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Neuron navigators (NAVs) are cytoskeleton-associated proteins well known for their role in axonal guidance, neuronal migration, and neurite growth necessary for neurodevelopment. Neuron navigator 3 (NAV3) is one of the three NAV proteins highly expressed in the embryonic and adult brain. However, the role of the NAV3 gene in human disease is not well-studied.
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